Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-02-17

pittance from the public treasury is
the most fragrant insult, but only
the more shameful than his insinuat.
ing vetoes of private pension bills
because the more sweeping. 1t is
not verified by their previous conduct,
for while it may be acknowledged
that there are instances of abuses
of the pension laws, there are over
whelming numbers of instances OF
worthy and disabled soldiers who
have never applied because of the
almost interminable roll of red tape
that must be unwound before relief
can be secured by the present intri-
cate laws and the mistaken idea that
a pension is a charity. There is yet
greater number of those who
would be unwilling to acknowledge
the conditions necessary to an appli-
cation under the provisions of the
vetoed bill.
While the question agitsting the
minds and battling the genius Of our
legislators is show can the treasury
surplus be reduced" while demo-
cratic lights are centering their forces
in an Intellectual effort to abolish the
tax on whisky and tobacco for that
alleged purpose, while we are sup
porting an arrogant administration
in regal splendor, the claim that the
government cannot afford to reward
its defenders appears mocking pre-
tense. The chairman of the House
committee on invalid pensions care
fully computed the increased costs
under this bill, which he estimated
at $4,7674Io per annum. The ac-
cumulated and accumulating surplus
is guarantee that such expense would
not be burdensome to the people
even though it were directly SUBJ
tracted from the nations wealth,
but when it is intended that it shall
return to the hands of the people for
immediate circulation among the
needy classes its disbursement ap-
pears more salutary than burden
some.
That portion Of the veto message,
however, which brings the blush to
the cheek of every loyal man, which
provokes rebuke on every hand and
is not excused by his Northern ad.
mirers,is wherein belief is expressed
that the governments obligation to
the soldier was discharged when he
was paid $I3 per month for service
on the field. The fact that no armies
are SO well paid as the American
troupes is not proof that they have
received all to which they are emit
tied. The relations of the soldier to
his country for which he endured
the privations and affections, and
the uncertainties of conflict, are
viewed and would be adjudicated by
the president from purely mercen-
airy standpoint, and his patriotism is
lost to sight amid the pomp and ar
rogance of a distinctly negative ele,
ment that by hook or crook is surely
usurping the offices in the gift of the
nation. Whoever may have been
beguiled to a support of the veto by
the touching though false plea Of
economy, or misguided by the idea
of the alleged indistinct provisions
will not conscientiously endorse such
a theory as the one advanced in thi:
clause. In this it is a notable de
parture from the governmental pol
icy of dealing with its soldiers snt
an unworthy restriction of patriotism
The nation has indeed been PROUD
that standing armies were not main.
tanned for her defense. Proud thai
the deplorable conditions have no
existed necessitating such prepare
ton, but not proud that an equa
expense has not been incurred. A
soldiers were never so we'll paiI
never were soldiers Drawer, NOR
valorous and devoted in their mis-
sion. This pre-occupying patriot
ism, this faithful service in doubtful
times, when the barest provision
necessary to existence were afforded
deserves recognition in these year
t of the nations consequent prosperit,
= and liberal giving from the nation
t wealth, for theirs were services tn
: value OF which cannot be computed
|, but timely relief for the disable
J. veteran and the aged dependents {
those whose lives were laid on the
|. country's altar would be becomin
evidence of gratitude, give other IT
e ward than the dying echos of viz
III tory's notes, and make better patrio
~ of the present and rising generation
There has not been nor can there |
y restitution or recompense to Il
j. now aged father or mother who
}" sons sleep in unmarked graves, b,
a. means of substance and to PROVE
:. the ordinary comforts in their d
=. clining years should be provided |
II the government whose united ext:
s. ence they helped to perpetuate.
o, That the sympathies of the a
Re ministration are not with the Unit
=, soldier there has been given amp
" evidence, amounting to assuranc
One hundred and two private pc
lie sion bills were quietly vetoed al
& the applicants branded as fraud
at and now the relief to the large nur
:, Der of dependents who will soon
% beyond the need Of such assistan
j; is as summarily denied on the pr
r tense of economy. This feature
m not characteristic of the administr
fior in any other departnenf TT